156 rebels ‘neutralized’, 223 firearms seized in Visayas in Jan-June 2023 – Army

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The New People’s Army (NPA) suffered more losses as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Visayas Command (VisCom) neutralized 156 NPA rebels from January to June this year.

This was disclosed by the VisCom in a recent command conference attended by all commanders of AFP units in the Visayas.

The Army claimed that 103 rebels surrendered, 42 died during encounters with the government troopers, and 11 were apprehended in joint law enforcement operations.

Among the neutralized rebels were 12 high-value individuals, including Rogelio Posadas, the alleged notorious secretary of Komiteng Rehiyon Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Siquijor (KR-NCBS) who died in an encounter in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental on April 20, according to VisCom.

Government forces also seized 223 firearms and 82 anti-personnel mines in the said period.

The rebels suffered the most in April and May, according to VisCom.

A total of 21 NPA rebels were neutralized and 25 firearms were seized in April, citing the April 30 incident wherein military troopers clashed with the rebels in Barangay Santander, Bobon, Northern Samar that killed seven NPA rebels.

The following month, 40 NPA rebels were neutralized, and 54 firearms were seized, highlighting the series of encounters in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental and Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental that killed nine NPA rebels.

Lieutenant General Benedict Arevalo, commander of VisCom, commended the members of Team VisCom for a job well done.

“The exceptional performance that you have shown manifests your strong desire and motivation to serve and protect our people and end the local communist armed conflict in this part of the country,” Arevalo said.

“Let us sustain our gains and continue doing our best to end the local communist armed conflict in the Visayas region, at the soonest possible time,” Arevalo said.

It was also revealed that a total of 942 people’s organizations were established, redirected, and coopted by the Community Support Program (CSP) Teams of Team VisCom in the entire Visayas region.

Of the number, 600 are in Western and Central Visayas, while 342 others are in Eastern Visayas.

Arevalo said the support of the people is vital in their campaign to end the reign of terror in the region.

“As we sustain our focused military operations to prevent the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA from taking advantage of the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections, let us also continue engaging our people,” he added.